William Higden

  General Notes:

Refered to in the following record dated 29 Sep 1460."Brimington 508 Quitclaim from William Higden of Edinsower andJoan his wife, to William Hunt of Tupton of a tenement and twoacres of land in Brimington which John Dewe, late husband of the said Joan had of the grant of John Wode. Wit. Richard Lece,William Higden, William Hyne, etc. Date Edinsower, MichaelmasDay, 39 Hen. vi (1460) (Foljambe)" - Derbyshire Charters p63.




The following analysis of the British History of the HIGDON surname is provided by John S. Higton (JS_Higton@compuserve.com), a British researcher engaged in a one-name study: “Over the past seven hundred years there have been many variation in the spelling of the name. It is possible that there a is link between these groups and that the variations are due to phonetic problems encountered by those who tried to interpret our ancestors pronunciation of their names. An analysis of more than one hundred and twenty-five pre-1600 records suggest that the first versions of the name appear in the late 13th century with Higden and Hikdon. A major branch of the family appears to have its origins in Derbyshire, England. The first person discovered to date is a Stephen Hikton mentioned in the 1380 Manor Court Roll for Baslow, Derbyshire. Also appearing several times in the Baslow Court Rolls, during the years 1379 -1382, is Richard whose surname is spelt Hikdon, Hicdon, Hykedon and Hikden at different times. These references almost certainly refer to the same person, and as Baslow was a very small village, Stephen is probably of the same family. The next person I have found recorded in this area is William Higden of Cromford, Derbyshire who entered into an agreement to supply lead ore in 1491 at Chatsworth. This is the first mention of the family’s long involvement in the lead mining industry in Derbyshire. This is followed by several Higtons and Higdons in the nearby village of Beeley. In 1558 an Edward Hygton appraised the will of Ysobel the wife of Richard Wigley of Cromford. The Wigleys were a minor gentry family who held land at Cromford and Wirksworth. The Higton family then appears in the parish registers of Wirksworth,Derbyshire with the marriage of one Henry Higton in 1609 (My earliest known ancestor). From this date it is possible to follow most of his descendants both in Derbyshire and other parts of the country. The Higton and Hickton spellings also occur at this time in Hartington and Kirk Ireton. All these places are within Derbyshire and lie within an area, of about 15 miles radius, centred on Cromford. Early family members were involved in lead and lead mining in Derbyshire and it is possible that this mining experience may have encouraged some of them to migrate to the exposed coal field in Nottinghamshire, which lies between the Derbyshire border and Sherwood Forest. By the early 1600's Higtons appear in Greasley and Selston in Nottinghamshire, but this family seems to fade out. This was followed, about 1700, by the Hicktons in the same eastern fringe of Nottinghamshire. As Higton is a Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire spelling I think there is a stong possibility that your John came from this area.” In reviewing some early legal documents, it was apparent that the US original John Higdon was often spelled as Higton. This information was transmitted to the British John Higton who continued in this line of research and reported back the following: “My interest in the spelling of the name in 17th century Maryland is based on an analysis of all mentions of Higton/Higdon in the 'Family Tree Maker' CD's of early legal documents. Higton appears to have changed to Higdon over the first four generations. 1. John’s generation was Higton 18 times in 21 documents. (86%) 2. John’s 6 children were Higton 21 times in 35 documents. (60%) 3. The third generation were Higton 1 time in 9 documents. (11%) 4. Fourth and subsequent generations were all Higdon. (0%) The last occurence of Higton was in 1773. The spelling Higton suggests that he may be from the Derbyshire/ Nottinghamshire area as this is the area in which Higton originated and was most common.” Currently, the British John Higton’s estimated pre-US origin of Derby or Notts is the best speculation available. John’s statement “By the early 1600’s Higtons appear in Greasley . . . but this family seems to fade out . . .” is of particular interest. There is a family myth that the Higdons actually came from Greece. Not too much imagination is needed to hear Greece from Greasley—and the time period is right. Just wishful thinking at this stage—but maybe one day it can be proven true! Until then . . .


County Kilkenny Ireland History


The Tobin Family
Early Documented History


Early References to de St. Albino (Tobin)

The first member of the Irish family on record is William de St. Albino (latinized form of St. Aubyn), who witnessed Geoffrey FitzRobert's charter c. 1204-06 to the priory of Kells in Ossory [source: Irish Monastic and Episcopal Deeds, p. 303]. He witnessed also the grant to Kells by Baldwin de Hamptonsford of the Church of Killinthy (Killiney), and the chapel of Nova Villa (Earlstown) and the grant by the same of Ofethil in Cumsy, viz., of Moydeshill (Modeshill) and Kilmenman (Kilvemnon) both in (the barony of) Slievardagh, co. Tipperary. The lands of Cumsy afterwards came to the St. Albinos: they owned Kilvemnon and were lords of Cumsy: and Adam de St. Albino, Willam's great-grandson, confirmed the grant of the churches of Moydeshill and Kilmenman to Kells [Ibid, p. 303].

William de St. Albino, who is described as Lord of Stamacharty (Stonecarthy, barony of Kells), gave that church to Kells c. 1200 [Ibid., p. 307], and also the lands of Lomoch (Lamoge near Killamery), between 1202 and 1218 [Ibid., p. 308]. He granted also land in Stonecarthy and a carucate of land in Balydunenald to the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem [Ormond Deeds, i. 311].

William's son Thomas held 1/2 knight's fee at Killamery, which no doubt was also held by William. The Register of Kells gives the following succession of the family from father to son: William, Sir Thomas, Adam, Sir Adam, David, Sir John [source: Irish Monastic and Episcopal Deeds, p. 307; the last two names are in a later hand].

Thomas was according to the Kells Register, William's son and heir. He witnessed a grant by Matthew FitzGriffin to Kells (in Ossory) circa 1228, etc. He was one of those before whom a fine was made in 1243 between John FitzGeoffrey (son of Geoffrey Fitz Robert), lord of Kells, and the burgesses [Gormanston Register., p.125 ; see Kells, no. 28]. In the 1247 feodary (de Clare purparty) he held the 1/2 knight fee in Killamery, co. Kilkenny.

Adam, son of Sir Thomas succeeded, according to the Kells Register, which states also that he married the daughter and heir of Reginald de Albamara who c. 1228/9 gave the land of Ballagh to Kells [Irish Monastic and Episcopal Deeds, p. 306]. This is Ballagh-tobin, now Ballytobin, called after the proprietors, a parish in the barony of Kells, adjoining Killamery, in county Kilkenny.

A charter of Adam, son of Adam de St. Albino of the premises of Kilamery and Ballagh(tobin) is listed in the Kells Register [Irish Monastic and Episcopal Deeds, p. 303]. Since it follows Balwin de Hamptonford's grant of Modeshill and Kilvemnon in Cumsy (co. Tipperary), and as Kilvemnon and Cumsy are later found in the possession of the de St. Albinos, there is no doubt that this charter refers to these places, where the St. Albinos must have succeeded de Hamptonsford.

Sir Adam was succeeded by his son David. Before December, 1308, the Prior of Kells had an action against David de St. Albino regarding the church of Kylmenmenan (i.e. Kilvemnan). He died about that time, for in 1308-9 John de St. Albino was lord of Cumsy [Ormond Deeds, i. 418]. In 1317 David's heir held the 1/2 knight fee in Killamery. The heir was his son Sir John, according to the Kells Register; and one version of the 1317 feodary has John, son of David de St. Albino, as holding Killamery.




June 6, 1372 - David O'Thothyll gives and grants to Richard son of David de Sancto Albino one messuage in 'le Old Colaygh' which lies between John Higton's tenement on one hand and said Richard's on the other. Given at 'le Old Colaygh. [Vol. II, 182, p.126]

  Birth Notes:

William was of Edensor, Derbyshire. - Derbyshire Charters p63.

William married Joan Dewe before 1450.